Thursday, November 25, 1999 Older Editions

They're water wonderful: Girls swim and dive team takes state title

By Rick Harrison

It was just another day at the wet and steamy office for the 1999 Andover High girls swim and dive team.

Although there is nothing ho-hum about winning a state title, the Lady Warriors made it look easy with nine first-place finishes in 12 events, four more state and meet records, 32 points in the one-meter diving and an amazing 1-2-3 finish in the 500-yard freestyle race.

Andover chalked up 285 points, and once again left everyone else in its wake on the way to a first-ever All-State swim title in the championship meet at Wellesley College's Chandler Natatorium.

It was also the first AHS state team title in any sport since the spring of 1992, when the varsity baseball team earned the second of its back-to-back Division 1 crowns.

The closest pursuer once again, pesky Merrimack Valley Conference archrival Chelmsford, was a distant runner-up with 199.5 points.

The 285 points were the most scored by a state swim and dive champ in almost a decade, and the wide victory margin (85.5 points) was the most since perennial titlist Acton-Boxboro defeated runner-up Chelmsford by 88 points (237-149) in 1996.

South Sectional powerhouse Duxbury was third this year with 136 points, MVC member Notre Dame Academy of Tyngsboro fourth (100), Bishop Feehan fifth (96) and eight-time defending champ A-B finished sixth (90 points).

There were 351 swimmers representing 42 Massachusetts schools, including more than 20 full teams, at the season-ending meet.

"We were all a little worried about Duxbury," said Holly Boucher. "We didn't know how good they were because they're in the south."

"We're always a little scared before a meet," said Sally Brown. "We always think it's going to be close."

***

The competition was dominated, Pedro Martinez-style, by head coach Marilyn Fitzgerald's talented Lady Warriors.

Once again the champs were ignited by highlight-reel performances from siblings Connie and Sally Brown.

Freshman 14-year-old Olympic hopeful Connie won the 100-yard butterfly (55.52 seconds) and 100 backstroke (56.23), breaking her own week-old state records in both races.

Sister Sally, a 15-year-old sophomore, emerged as a double state champion in the 200 freestyle (1:52.43) and 500 free (5:04.16).

The incomparable pair fattened their resumes by also swimming on victorious 200 medley and 400 free relays that shattered the existing state records.

Connie produced a blistering 50.50-second anchor leg for the 400 team, a time that would have eclipsed the state 100 free mark had she competed in that event. The relay time of 3:32.87 was almost three full seconds better than the meet record of 3:35.49 Chelmsford swam last year and the 3:35.35 AHS posted at the recent North Sectionals.

Freestyle sprint specialist Holly Boucher swam on both relays and won two individual events, capturing the state title in both the 50 free (24.18) and 100 free (52.45).

In the diving, North Sectional champ Jen Busby became the first Andover state champ off the one meter board when she scored 432.85 points.

Completing the spectacular top three finish in the 500 were Caitlin Geary (5:09.07) and Lauren Harlow (5:16.46).

***

This may be the beginning of an Acton-like dynasty for the AHS swimmers.

Diver Krit Kearins was the only senior to score in the meet while all other points came from seven freshmen, five sophomores and four juniors.

"There are more good seventh and eighth grade girls, like Amy Caron, on the way up," said Sally Brown. "Andover could rule for awhile. That would be fun."

Judging from this season, and how few graduates there are (nine seniors), this may definitely be the start of something special.

***

The rise of junior Jen Busby to the top of the state diving world has been rapid.

Her first-place finish accounted for 16 of the 32 diving points that gave AHS an early lead in the State Meet.

Kristen Elsmore contributed a fourth place with 395.80 points and Krit Kearins was eighth with 352.60 points.

Gretchen Fuhr finished barely out of scoring range, 14th overall with 213.30 points.

Andover was the only team in the state to qualify four divers and the only one to have three score.

Busby started diving several years ago during the summer with the Indian Ridge Country Club team. This is her third season with the Lady Warriors and she does not belong to any outside teams.

She also played soccer prior to high school and was a gymnast until a nasty spill off a backyard trampoline tore apart her left elbow and cut short her gymnastics career.

"I've had surgery on the elbow three times. It doesn't bother my diving but it's stopped me from doing a few other things," said Busby, flashing a pretty state championship smile.

Busby isn't exactly sure why her diving has improved by leaps and bounds recently. Or -- if she knows -- she isn't talking.

"I've been a lot more consistent but that's about it. Coach (Mary) Schissel is really good. She doesn't make us do anything we're not ready for and she doesn't pressure us."

Busby is also quick to point out that AHS diving mates Elsmore, Kearins and Fuhr are just as vital to the Lady Warriors' success.

During the regular season they took turns placing first in dual meets.

"I'm pretty sure Jen is our first state diving champ," said coach Schissel. "She started to emerge last year. She's very focused and determined.

"Jen is definitely having fun when she's practicing or competing -- but she's also serious about analyzing each part of every dive and discussing it with me. She likes the feedback.

"She's very athletic and knows her body and its limits," continued Schissel. "She senses what she can and cannot do with a dive.

"Jen also is great with little tips to the other divers. One of the best things about this group is the comraderie. They're all pulling for one another and Kristen, Krit and Gretchen have also done a fine job all season."

Schissel is not surprised that Busby nailed down the sectional and state titles.

"Ever since I've known Jen she's been this way. She's more focused and comes on stronger at the end of the season. The bigger the meet the better she performs."

At the sectional and state meets all divers must perform six optional and five required dives, with the optional dives carrying differing degrees of difficulty.

"Technique is important to the judges," said Busby. "It's better to do a less difficult dive and do it perfectly than to try something that might be beyond your ability.

"Coach Schissel and I get together to decide what dives I'll do, She always makes sure all of us are comfortable with the ones we choose."

Busby's 432.85 points were slightly below her winning sectional total of 454.30. But the explanation is simple.

"There are judges from both the north and south (parts of the state) and the scoring is always tougher at this meet," said Busby.

She was a little more than 10 points better than runner-up Alisha Lee of Seekonk (422.50), while North runner-up Heather Brogan of Notre Dame Academy-Tyngsboro was a quarter-point behind Lee at 422.25.

"I was nervous (about winning) because it was really close for first place -- and my last dive wasn't as good as I wanted it to be."

***

Busby said there was a very good feeling about this Andover team before the season started.

"We knew we had a lot of really strong swimmers. Last year we also had Caroline (state runner-up Crocker) as our No. 1 diver. This year, with Caroline graduated, it looked like Kristen (Elsmore), Krit (Kearins) and I would the top three but we needed a fourth and Gretchen (Fuhr) stepped in."

Jen, at 16, is the youngest of three children. Older brother Rob, 20, was an ice hockey and baseball standout at AHS now attending Worcester Polytech and brother Matt, 18, is a senior at the high school.

At the sectional and state meet the diving is always in the morning and the swim races in the afternoon.

In both meets Busby, Elsmore, Kearins and Fuhr gave the Lady Warrior swimmers a huge lead going into the afternoon, piling up 38 points at sectionals and 32 at states.

"The first thing we ask when we get off the bus at these meets is 'how did the divers do?' and it's awesome to find out they scored so many points," said Sally Brown.

"We love the divers," added Holy Boucher. "We go into the meet a little more relaxed and confident with their points already up on the board."

"It's a little extra motivation," said Caitlin Geary.

"They (swimmers) wanted that same feeling at states they had at sectionals," said coach Fitzgerald. "They like the added security of a big lead going into the afternoon."

***

Connie Brown continues to amaze with her spectacular record-setting performances.

Before the winning 100 butterfly effort the swimmers had to wait a few extra minutes while meet officials tried to locate a missing timer.

Connie meditated for a while, staring at the starting board, and then showed her frustration at the delay by clenching her fists and looking a little exasperated.

"I think it's just nervous energy," she said. "I really get nervous before every race -- but I think it makes me swim better.

"When the race is on and I can hear my teammates cheering it psyches me up. It's a team sport but it's individual, too. No one can help you once you're in the water.

"I keep thinking how every point counts and that keeps me geared up. Everyone is depending on you and you want to do well," said the record-setter.

The only superstition Connie admits to is her goggles must be fitted exactly the same way for every race.

"I don't like to have any superstitions because then -- if you forget to do something -- you'll get all messed up thinking about it," she explained.

***

Sally Brown, on the other hand, always cracks her knuckles while standing behind the starting blocks before a race begins.

"A lot of times I don't even know I'm doing it -- but I admit to it.

"I also try to eat the same food the day of a meet -- or I have to put my left shoe on before my right shoe. Crazy stuff like that."

Apparently it works.

***

Connie pointed to the strong performances of Holly Hinds and Dana Medaglio as key contributions at the states, while Sally thought Caitlin Geary might be in line for an Unsung Hero Award if one were given.

Geary had the aforementioned second place in the 500 free, anchored the winning 200 medley and second place 200 free relays, and finished third in the 200 free (1:57.69).

Joining Geary on the 200 free relay, runner-up to Chelmsford, were Beth Couture, Erica Douvadjian and Hinds.

Hinds was seventh in the 200 IM (2:14.75) and 10th in the 100 fly (1:02.42),

Lauren Harlow placed fourth in the 200 IM (2:12.77) and Medaglio was sixth in the 100 breaststroke (1:11.24).

Couture was 16th (25.99) and Douvadjian 19th (26.13) in the 50 free, while Douvadjian also finished 19th in the 100 breast (1:14.30).

Edie Muller (23rd, 58.33) and Caitlin Hamer (26th, 58.75) swam in the 100 free, while Hamer was also 24th in the 500 free (5:41.23).

Hillary Schofield placed 24th in the 100 breast (1:15.71) and also competed in the 200 IM, while Monika Eghbalian swam in the 100 fly.

***

Coach Fitzgerald didn't know quite where to start in praising her athletes.

"We had a team meeting two days before states and I told them they had a chance to make history -- the first Andover girls swim team to win a state title.

"They were not only swimming for themselves -- but for all the Andover swim teams to come," said Fitzgerald. "I compared it to the girls basketball team when they went to the state final a couple years ago. A lot of younger girls in town started looking up to those varsity players. I'd love for the same thing to happen with our swimmers."

Fitzgerald said she spent considerable of time during the week answering telephone calls from well-wishers.

"I also sent out individual cards with personal messages to each swimmer before the meet," said Fitzgerald. "They all knew everyone else got one. I wasn't playing favorites. It's another way to motivate them. I'm always looking for any little edge I can get."

"The card was really terrific," said Sally Brown, who is Fitzgerald's granddaughter. "She mentioned a lot of little things that went on during the season that I didn't even known she was aware of.

"She's a great motivator," added Sally. "She's always right there before and during a race pumping us up. But she never lets us get cocky."

"She has a very loud and distinctive voice," added Caitlin Geary. "You can always hear her above all the other noise."

***

Fitzgerald, a 30-year veteran of the coaching wars including eight seasons at AHS, was especially pleased with Holly Hinds and Lauren Harlow.

"Holly placing in the IM and fly was excellent, and Lauren held her own in the IM."

The head coach was also understandably ecstatic with the 1-2-3 finish in the 500 free.

"I'll take full credit for that," she aid. "Lauren placed second in the 100 free at sectionals and everyone assumed we'd put her in the same race at states.

"But you have to respect the power of the south teams in the sprint frees. They have a slew of good swimmers in the shorter races.

"I knew (Caitlin) Healy (of Needham) would swim the 100 (she placed second to Holly Boucher). And Lauren's time in the 100 last week (55.79) would have placed her seventh today.

"So, even though she'd only competed in the 500 twice before, I knew she could finish third or fourth (she was seeded third). It all worled out perfectly.

"Lauren's our utility player anyway. We can swim her anywhere in any event and she'll produce."

***

Do opponents ever try to 'psyche out' the Andover swimmers.

"Not really," said Boucher and Geary. "We're good friends with a lot of the other girls. We swim with (on club teams) and against them most of the year. Especially the Chelmsford kids."

Said Sally Brown: "Whitney Ryan (double state champ from Belmont) bought some pretty scary looking goggles and I thought she was trying to make me nervous. But she swore she lost her other pair and had to get these at the last minute."

***

The Brown sisters and Holly Boucher have all qualified for a U.S. Open Meet in Texas, and an AA Time Invitational Meet in Buffalo, N.Y. -- both scheduled next month.

Connie also has the U.S. Olympic Trials next August (not March as originally reported).

Many of the Andover swimmers now turn their full attention to the Merrimack Valley Pirates swim team.

"I'm pretty tired," admitted Sally Brown. "High school swimming is a lot of fun, but when you combine with the club team it can be a grind. Most days it's four or five hours in the pool before and after school -- so we try to take a couple days off here and there."

"We're all tired," said coach Fitzgerald. "But the year-round (club) coaches are anxious to get these kids back."

***

Coaches Fitzgerald, Schissel and Nancy Finneran all ended up soaked to the bone after the meet, either jumping or being pushed into the Wellesley College pool following the awarding of the state championship plaque by MIAA meet director Richard Lennon -- who coincidentally lives in Andover.

Finneran, a Doherty Middle School teacher, is a first-year assistant coach.

"Everyone really likes her," said Sally Brown. "It's like she's one of us."

***

After the meet the entire team went to Bertucci's for celebration pizza.

"Does Bertucci's have desserts," asked Sally Brown. "That's all I want to know."

***

What can the Lady Warriors possibly do for an encore next fall?

They were 12-0 in dual meets in addition to winning both the North Sectional and All-State titles.

"Chelmsford beat us at the MVC Championship Meet," said Boucher, "That was our only loss so next year we can try and sweep everything."

"We missed our own pep rally the day of that (MVC) meet and some of us think that's why we lost," added Sally Brown.

***

The state champs' breakup banquet is Monday, Dec. 6 at Andover Country Club.